Market Fires, Riots & A Malaria Scare

~ Wednesday 30th July

The local market - Tsoka market - was in flames last night. I kid you not. Stalls and merchandise (worth billions in the local currency) burnt to ash, simultaneously knocking out the electricity for hours.

I wouldn't have been so affected by it if my phone hadn't completely died on me and was in dire need of charging. Also the small fact that the market is five minutes away and after we went outside to see thick grey smoke billowing in the night sky accompanied by the sharp smell of scorched wood, we panicked at the possibility that it could reach us.

We actually calculated how long it would take for us to be in trouble. Extreme? Maybe. But this is Africa and considering how luck hasn't been in our favour lately, it was justified. Especially if fire engines don't have water.

As it happens, we survived. Although my brother's had a high fever, aching muscles and chills for the last few days - my family, being as smart as they are, starting taking their malaria tablets a week later than they should have done. So we had to rush him to the hospital this morning for an emergency malaria test because we're off to Salima tomorrow to spend a few days at Lake Malawi and we couldn't risk him ruining the trip for us.

Taking him there then resulted in us being caught up in riots that were happening on the main road; there was an uproar between the street vendors and the market traders who lost their stock last night because it was suspected that the fire was an arson attack by the street vendors to impact the market trade. There were angry mobs stoning private property and looting whatever they could get their hands on and some rioters were even burning down vehicles. Eventually, uniformed armed police were having to intervene by firing teargas. I don't think my dad's been more scared in his life!

The drama and excitement seems to be never-ending. But on the bright side, my brother has been cleared of malaria. Yay. He simply has an infection so it looks like we're off to the Lake tomorrow!

(I'll post the pictures - I promise it's so beyond beautiful and well worth the wait)